SPYDR's SIM Offensive Guide

[DSpydr84]

Hey Spyder could you tell me some good plays to use in the redzone on offense. It seems like 70% of my interceptions come when I'm in the redzone.

How close are we talking here?

It's stupid, but from the 20 to the 5 I call that the "Green Zone" (Red Zone is for defense; Red means stop, Green means go). Then from the 5 and in is the "Goalline" (for obvious reasons).

My Green Zone plays are a little bit different than my regular offense, because the defense is congested and doesn't have to worry about a deep pass. A lot of times, especially this year because man-coverage isn't all that great, you will face a Cover 2 zone in these situations. Try to work the sidelines. Deep outs are great options when you're getting close, just make sure you have the flat defender occupied or he'll sneak up and pick it off.

If you're up against what's preferably known as "fag D" (9+ guys in coverage), just run a draw play. They work much better this year as opposed to years past, and you should get a nice 5+ yard gain.

As for the Goalline, use a lot of crossing patterns, rollouts, or just pound the rock. Don't walk away with anything less than a touchdown in this situation, and in most cases that means going for it on 4th down. You made it that far, you better finish the job.

Now I'm sure you noticed that in my 4 paragraph response, I cleverly avoided your question. If you're really at a loss, I'll throw a couple plays up here at your request, but I'd rather you find some of your own that you feel comfortable running. My style is different than yours, so you'll obviously pick better plays for you than I will. Throw it away when necessary, don't abandon the run, and walk away every game with a three digit number in the "Green Zone Scoring Percentage" column. You'll win more games because of it.

Hope that helps.

[RosettaStoned]

How do you stop WR screens?

[DSpydr84]

How do you stop WR screens?

Well, first let's examine why someone might use this play, since that will make it easier for us to determine how to stop it.

One reason a player would use a WR Screen is if he has recognized the opponent likes to blitz. Against single coverage, it is almost impossible for the defense to win this battle. The rush will never reach the quarterback, and the corner will almost always get blocked.

Another reason someone might use a screen is if they notice a numbers advantage to the outside. If they have 3 WRs to the left, and you have 2 defenders on those receivers, then the offense can easily block both players and the WR can run wild. If it is 3-on-3, or 3-on-4 (safety help over the top), it is much more difficult for the WR to create any space.

As with anything, there is the give and take, but to shut down a screen pass, your best bet is to use a play like Double Z or Double Wide, something to that effect. You will have the numbers advantage, and it would be virtually impossible for them to make any substantial yardage. Just make sure you're getting the numbers advantage, and not running a Cover 3 with the safety to the screen side in a deep zone, etc. Try it out.

[RosettaStoned]

Thank man, appreciate it. Also, check your reps, I have another question for you there.

[Rush]

Good shit DSpydr, keep em' coming. You should do a write-up on zone blitzes and how to use them while still having good coverage.

[Saluki]

Tight Ends seem to always tear me up. I tend to play like the Steelers, blitzing with one or more of the backers on nearly any given play, since it's near impossible for the Steelers ends to get to the QB, since they're run stoppers and don't have ideal speeds. How do I shut that Tight End down, while still forcing the quick throw?

When people start abusing the seam i like to take control of the saftey over the TE. If you've got the stick for it you can cover the TE for easy ints up the seam, use the same blitzes you would normally use to get pressure.

[steeljake]

if you leave a middle line backer in the hook zone and play as on of the other lb's in man or vice versa it will help as well.

[DSpydr84]

Good shit DSpydr, keep em' coming. You should do a write-up on zone blitzes and how to use them while still having good coverage.

A good player will tell you that a good blitz is one that disguises who is coming. One that, when performed right, will get instant heat on the quarterback.

I don't think like a good player.

As you guys know, I'm more outside of the box. There's got to be more to it.

And there is.

Somebody like me believes that a good blitz is one that disguises the rush, but ALSO disguises the coverage as well. The blitz itself may not always be enough to get to the quarterback, but if he holds the ball longer than he wants to in confusion, then you're going to walk away with a sack or an interception.

NOTE: The pictures I'm using are from my camera, which is why the quality is fairly low. I felt that these images were vitally important, however, so bare with the fuzzyness. Maybe VSN can hook me up ;)



This play, Corner Crash 3, was found in Dime-Normal, and is more than likely in every playbook in the game. For whatever reason if it's not, I found it in the 4-3.

MANDATORY ADJUSTMENTS:
--Put the blitzing CB in a flat zone
--That's it!

OTHER ADJUSTMENTS:
--You can spread the DL if you want, don't crash them in any direction.
--I like to move the blitzing nickel back a little closer to give away the blitz. I want the QB looking my way.

I would also highly recommend that this play be for FS users only, which is most of you.

**This is an excellent play for 3rd and long, but is susceptible to a post or deep in from the left WRs. If you've noticed the offense taking a liking to these routes, you may not want to use this play.**

After making your adjustments, the play should look somewhat like mine does below.





Notice what this looks like if you were playing offense. I would think this is a Cover 1, with the nickel CB blitzing and the FS playing man on the slot to replace him. This is the kind of confusion we are trying to create.

Another good thing for you is that the SS is pretty high and over their number one WR. The offense really has no reason to look to the right, especially in man coverage. He wants to see if that nickel is really blitzing, and that the FS is really in man coverage. His mismatch is to the left.





This is the play from a closer angle. Again, this looks like a fairly obvious man-blitz scheme. The important part is with all these adjustments, you've probably caught the QBs attention. And that is a very good thing in slowing down his read.





This is the play from the game angle. Again, I'm disguising my coverage to look like one thing, and end up doing another.





As the play progresses, you'll see that I take my drop with the slot WR, making it look EVEN MORE like man coverage. The reason I'm allowed to get away with this before heading to my deep zone is because I put my CB in a flat zone, and he gets a great press on Wes Welker to slow him up.





This again is a closer look. I just drop straight back with the slot WR, and my CB gets a press on their X WR before heading into his flat zone responsibility.





At the same time, you'll see that my weak DT has cut across the grain, taking the LG, C, and RG with him. This rarely happens, but as you can see it has given my LB a free release at the QB. Brady made sure Maroney was in to block, most users don't do such a thing.





Here's what Tom is looking at. After making his pre-snap read and watching my drop, along with the nickel CB actually blitzing, it is fair to say that the defense really is in man coverage. Since all my adjustments have detered him from looking to the right, and my CB is pressing his WR initially, he probably won't even notice this is a zone coverage until it's too late.





You can see that as soon as he gets his arm cocked and ready to throw, I bolt over to my deep third. The curl/quick out by the slot will be well covered, and I only back-pedaled with him as a distraction. Hopefully, the QB reads man coverage and throws the curl/quick out to the slot receiver, you who can see is well covered by the dropping lineman.





This is the WR angle of what I just explained. You can see that the 20 yard line (which would be 10 yards deep; a first down) is well covered, and deceptive at that. Although the pressure didn't get there, we have created a situation that puts heat on the QB. The pre-snap setup told him a blitz was coming, so he will instinctively know he needs to get rid of the ball pretty soon. A forced pass is very likely in this situation.





He throws the ball to who he thought was Wes Welker beating single coverage, until he finds out that his option was banketed.






...and it's easy pickens for the defense.



So you see, blitzing is not always used to get a sack, but rather to force an early/ill-adivsed throw. Using deceptive coverages will also create confusion for the QB, and possibly cause him to make a bad read. It's not all about Cover 3 and 2 Man Under; sometimes you have to get creative.

[DSpydr84]

The new updates will more than likely be posted on the home page. I'll be sure to link all of those articles in the Madden section incase people aren't staying updated with the main page articles.

[Yawkey Way]

hey spydr i have a question, how do you connect on long go routes. Sometimes i'll send Moss long in my chise, and even when he's on single coverage the play gets broken up or picked off every time. Is it something i'm doing wrong, or does the play just not work.

[DSpydr84]

hey spydr i have a question, how do you connect on long go routes. Sometimes i'll send Moss long in my chise, and even when he's on single coverage the play gets broken up or picked off every time. Is it something i'm doing wrong, or does the play just not work.

I would say you're probably not reading the play/throwing the ball soon enough. A lot of times if you wait too long, the QB will underthrow it (for obvious reasons - most QBs can't throw the ball 60-70 yards during a game) and in which case your problems will happen.

I have connected a lot with Orlovsky/Johnson, so it's definitely not your quarterback. Just throw it a little sooner. A lot of times my first read will be the strong safety, and if he doesn't go over-the-top and help the CB, I'm taking a shot deep with Calvin.

I'm trying to think of a number, so I'll throw 3 seconds at you. That sounds about right. From the snap to release should be about 3 seconds. See if that helps.

[Yawkey Way]

yeah it does,i've been waiting a lot longer than that..i'll try it out thanks man

[DSpydr84]

Guys, keep posting your questions in here, and I'll make a write-up for the good ones and get them on the front page. I'm working on one for the running game/breaking tackles right now.

[LC AAU]

I really need help on the passing game. Seems like everytime i throw the ball it gets INT'ed. Any tips?

[jags224]

I really need help on the passing game. Seems like everytime i throw the ball it gets INT'ed. Any tips?

dont pass it to the other team